Foursquare Gospel Church Igbosere (Chapel of Blessing)

OUR DAILY BREAD September 15, Sunday UNITY Estera Pirosca Escobar Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit thrPLLLough the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:3 Ephesians 4:1–6 Proverbs 22–24; 2 Corinthians 8 In 1722 a small group of Moravian Christians, who lived in what is now the Czech Republic, found refuge from persecution on the estate of a generous German count. Within four years, more than 300 people came. But instead of an ideal community for persecuted refugees, the settlement became filled with discord. Different perspectives on Christianity brought division. What they did next may seem like a small choice, but it launched an incredible revival: They began to focus on what they agreed on rather than on what they disagreed on. The result was unity. The apostle Paul strongly encouraged the believers in the church in Ephesus to live in unity. Sin would always bring trouble, selfish desires, and conflict in relationships. But as those who were made “alive wit...

OUR DAILY BREAD September 14, Saturday WHATEVER THE COST Tim Gustafson They would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear.  John 12:42 John 12:37–43 Proverbs 19–21; 2 Corinthians 7 The film  Paul, Apostle of Christ  takes an unflinching look at persecution in the early days of the church. Even the movie’s minor characters reveal how dangerous it was to follow Jesus. Consider these roles listed in the credits: Beaten Woman; Beaten Man; Christian Victims 1, 2, and 3. Identifying with Christ often came at a high cost. And in much of the world, it’s still dangerous to follow Jesus. Many in the church today can relate to that kind of persecution. Some of us, however, may feel “persecuted” prematurely—outraged any time our faith is mocked or we suspect we were passed over for a promotion because of our beliefs. Obviously, there’s a colossal difference between sacrificing social status and sacrificing our lives. Rea...

OUR DAILY BREAD September 13, Friday WHATEVER WE DO Xochitl Dixon Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.  Proverbs 16:3 Proverbs 16:1–9 Proverbs 16–18; 2 Corinthians 6 In  Surprised by Joy,  C. S. Lewis confessed he came to Christianity at the age of thirty-three, “kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance to escape.” Despite Lewis’s own personal resistance, his shortcomings, and the obstacles he faced, the Lord transformed him into a courageous and creative defender of the faith. Lewis proclaimed God’s truth and love through writing powerful essays and novels that are still being read, studied, and shared more than fifty-five years after his death. His life reflected his belief that a person is “never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.” As we make plans and follow dreams, God can purify our motives and empower us to devote whatever we do to Him (Proverbs 16:1–3)....

OUR DAILY BREAD September 12, Thursday TONGUE TAMERS Linda Washington Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.  Ephesians 4:29 James 3:1–6 Proverbs 13–15; 2 Corinthians 5 In  West with the Night,  author Beryl Markham detailed her work with Camciscan, a feisty stallion she was tasked with taming. She’d met her match with Camciscan. No matter what strategy she employed, she could never fully tame the proud stallion, chalking up only one victory over his stubborn will. How many of us feel this way in the battle to tame our tongues? While James compares the tongue to the bit in a horse’s mouth or a ship’s rudder (James 3:3–5), he also laments, “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be” (v. 10). So, how can we win the battle over the tongue? The apostle Paul offers tongue-taming advice. The first involves speaking only the truth (Ephesians 4:25)....

OUR DAILY BREAD September 11, Wednesday BETTER THAN EVER Dave Branon Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  2 Corinthians 4:16 2 Corinthians 4:16–5:9 Proverbs 10–12; 2 Corinthians 4 The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is a spectacular building. Its architecture is spellbinding, and its stained-glass windows and beautiful interior features are breathtaking. But after centuries of towering over the Paris landscape, it needed renovation—which had begun when a devastating fire caused extensive damage to the glorious old building.  So the people who love this eight-century-old landmark are coming to its rescue. More than a billion dollars has been raised to restore the building. The stone structure must be shored up. The damaged interior and its prized artifacts need to be repaired. The effort is worthwhile, though, because for many this ancient cathedral stands as a symbol of hope. Wh...

OUR DAILY BREAD September 10, Tuesday I WILL FEAR NO EVIL Lisa M. Samra Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.  Psalm 23:4 Psalm 23 Proverbs 8–9; 2 Corinthians 3 In 1957, Melba Pattillo Beals was selected to be one of the “Little Rock Nine,” a group of nine African American students who first integrated the previously all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. In her 2018 memoir,  I Will Not Fear: My Story of a Lifetime of Building Faith under Fire,  Beals gives a heartbreaking account of the injustices and harassment she struggled to face courageously every day as a fifteen-year-old student. But she also wrote about her deep faith in God. In her darkest moments, when fear almost overwhelmed her, Beals repeated the familiar Bible verses she had learned at an early age from her grandmother. As she recited them, she was reminded of God’s presence with her, and Scripture gave her courage to endure. Bea...

OUR DAILY BREAD September 9,  Monday WHEN WE KNOW WHO WINS Adam Holz He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  Revelation 21:4 Revelation 21:1–5 Proverbs 6–7; 2 Corinthians 2 My supervisor is a huge fan of a certain college basketball team. This year, they won the national championship, so another coworker texted him congratulations. The only problem was my boss hadn’t yet had a chance to watch the final game! He was frustrated, he said, knowing the outcome beforehand. But, he admitted, at least when he watched the game he wasn’t nervous when the score stayed close to the end. He knew who won! We never really know what tomorrow will hold. Some days can feel mundane and tedious, while other days are filled with joy. Still other times, life can be grueling, agonizing even, for long periods of time. But despite life’s unpredictable ups and downs, we can still be securely grounded in God’s peace. Because, like my supervisor, we know the end of the story. We know who “w...